Cameron County, near Brownsville
The Texas Historical Commission (THC), in conjunction with local co-host the Cameron County Historical Commission (CHC); Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (NHP); the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, South Texas Refuge Complex; and with support from the Brownsville Historical Association will host Park Day for Palmito Ranch Battlefield National Historic Landmark (NHL), known as the last land battle of the American Civil War.
Starting at 9:00 a.m., Palo Alto Battlefield NHP will serve as the site host for the Cameron CHC’s Civil War Symposium on the topic of South Texas and the Cotton Trade in the Civil War. Following the morning’s symposium attendees will relocate to Palmito Ranch Battlefield for Park Day.
Free and open to the public. Free breakfast tacos and drinks at the morning symposium (while supplies last). For the Park Day session bring sunscreen, working cloths, and hat. Bottled water, disposable gloves, and trash bags will be provided.
The morning’s symposium will be held at Palo Alto Battlefield NHP’s Visitor Center. Park Day will then be held at Palmito Ranch Battlefield (maps to the core battlefield area will be distributed during the morning’s orientation).
WHERE: Palo Alto Battlefield NHP is located at the northeast corner of the intersection of FM 1847 and FM 511, approximately five miles north of Brownsville. The Palmito Ranch Battlefield NHL core battlefield area [site of Park Day] is located 16.3 miles east of Brownsville on State Highway 4 (Boca Chica Hwy).
BACKGROUND: Park Day is an annual event sponsored by the Civil War Trust and the History Channel, which seeks volunteers to clean and repair the grounds of Civil War battlefields. At each site, volunteers receive a free T-shirt and patches (while supplies last), and have the opportunity to hear historians interpret the battle. Palmito Ranch Battlefield NHL lies in the Texas Tropical Trail Region, which showcases the heritage, natural beauty, and rich culture of South Texas for the benefit and enjoyment of Texans and travelers.
The following day, Sunday April 6, the Brownsville Historical Association is promoting that the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Palo Alto Chapter and the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Col. John S. (RIP) Ford Camp will rededicate a marker to Jefferson Davis originally placed in 1926. The site of the rededication will take place at Washington Park in Historic Brownsville, Texas at 2:00 pm.
